KIDS’ GIFT GUIDE!

Well, well, well. The time has come for you to visit all your favorite blogs and be inundated with things to purchase instead of business as usual (which, let’s be honest, can still be an inundation of things to purchase–any time of year.). But, I do believe I’m throwing pretty worthwhile things your way. Things that have been vetted by none other than the Hunt boys (except a few that I think would be cool, and that they’d agree) over the last few years. I don’t love a lot of toys, nor do I think kids really love a lot of toys. I take that back–they like receiving the toys, but often, not much else beyond that. I find that kids and babies alike end up gravitating towards the non toys anyway. I hope you find this list helpful as you figure out how to manage Christmas shopping this year and what is worth spending your money on, and what’s not. It’s probably more geared towards 3-8 year olds, but that’s the world I’m in!

L.L. Bean sleeping bag: I’m seriously considering one of these for the boys this year. They’re so nice to have for inevitable sleepovers, camping trips, and more. Plus, they’re machine washable.
Magnatiles: You’ve seen Magnatiles everywhere, and you’re probably asking yourself (unless you already own them), are they really worth it? Yes, they are. They’re among the top toys my boys play with and we’ve had them now for years. I have never tried the Magnatiles knock-offs but apparently they’re pretty good too.
Rivet Apparel Tees: I love their tees. Perfect worn in cotton, perfect art and slogans. The boys each have some of them, and with phrases like “Hike More, Worry Less,” they’re a keeper.
Red Bubble Stickers: I never knew such a sticker variety could be found until Red Bubble (thank you to Liz for the tip!). Stickers on water bottles are all the rage these days, as you probably know, so Parker is getting some Sandlot ones to add to his. You can find a sticker for virtually anything you can think of there.
A Walker Family Goods backpack: We love Walker Family Goods so much. Not only are Lex and Loren the coolest people on the internet, but they make seriously great bags. Steve and I each have one of their duffles, but it’s become more of the family duffle, depending on who’s going where and what we’re packing. The colors are amazing, and I love the other items they’ve added like the backpack.
Microkick scooter: Alongside the Magnatiles, this is one of the greatest items I’ve ever purchased for my kids. We even got a second one for Anders, because Parker’s was still very much in use. Spend extra to get the maxi–that way it’ll be in use longer as they grow. Also, they come apart for pretty easy packing (so easy, that we actually brought Parker’s abroad when we lived there; I think having it made the transition smoother!)
Mightybright clip on light: Parker is getting this this year, and it came highly recommended from a friend of mine. I can’t wait to see him reading in bed at night with this.
Boogie Board: This is fun for car rides, restaurant waits, and more.
Chunkies paint sticks: So nice for little hands, we love these Chunkies pant sticks. Also, they’ve used them a lot and have never needed replacing.
Matching game: We have this exact one and we play with it at least a few times a month. This is one of my favorite games to play with the kids.
Linen child’s apron: We don’t have this, but it would be so sweet for a girl or boy alike who enjoy cooking or baking with Mom (or Dad).
Climbing toys: We don’t have this either, but if I had a little baby I think I’d be getting one of these. It looks like it would get so much use as they learn their motor skills. I regularly dream of having my house be, quite literally, a fun house. Just last week was sending Steve two DIY project ideas–one was a slide over the stairs for the winter and the other was an indoor rock wall. This climbing structure is in keeping with my fun house ideas.
Some good books: That link will take you to a lot of my favorite kid books. Nothing beats a really great book for Christmas.

What are you getting for your kiddos this Christmas?